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Is Mateship a Virtue?

Page, James S. (2002) Is Mateship a Virtue?. Australian Journal of Social Issues 37(2):pp. 193-200.

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Abstract

This essay seeks to examine the concept of mateship from the perspectives of consequentialist and virtue ethics. It is suggested that mateship is a prominent concept in the way Australians think of themselves. However it is also suggested that mateship is linked to solidarity and commitment in time of war. It is suggested that what we should recognize mateship is one of the factors that facilitates and perpetuates war. It is suggested that mateship is also questionable as a character virtue, given what mateship entails. It is suggested that ultimately we need to examine more closely the consequences of the solidarity that we define as mateship, and we need to query more closely what we regard as virtues.

Item Type:Journal Article
Status:Published
Keywords:mateship; mate; consequentialist ethics; virtue ethics; mateship; solidarity; war; Australian Constitution; John Howard; national ideology; Australian bushman; Henry Lawson; personal nobility; Great Lone Land; adversity, Les Murray; bush poet; ideal of mateship; ANZAC experience; World War One; fraternity; sorority; being; action; workmates; combat; aretaics; eudaemonics; utilitarian ethics; Aristotle; Nichomachean Ethics; the Other; human beings an enemy; 1914; 1918; Niall Feguson; coping mechanism; Platonic; Aristotelian; ineer harmony; killing; paradox of matership; patriotism; ideologization; validation; James Smith Page;
Subjects:220000 Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts - General
ID Code:3567
Deposited By:Page, James S.
Deposited On:23 February 2006
Alternative Locations:http://www.acoss.org.au/
Copyright Owner:Copyright 2002 Australian Council of Social Services
Copyright Statement:The contents of this journal can be freely accessed online via the journal’s web page (see link).